[TC13] Headcrab

[zweihander]

Seeing the basically non-existent number of lego headcrabs roaming around ravenholm, I decided to step in and build one for TC13.

My initial idea was to build one that moved its legs, but wanting to shake my dust I got a bit ambitious and started thinking of mechanisms that would allow it to jump, even though it'll probably be a very small jump (hop maybe?).

I threw together a proof of concept for the mechanics just to toy with the idea:

The red liftarms will be spring loaded manually and held in place with a ratchet, which will be released by the linear actuator, but this solution may release the ratchet too early. Another option is to disconnect the actuator, move it back a bit, and adjust the distance so that the tip of the la will release the ratchet near the end of its travel (or depending on where on the headcrabs horizontal travel I want it to jump).

After I toy with the mechanics and see if I can make it work or not, I plan to build a light body mostly with panels to keep the weight down.

All opinions/suggestions are welcome.

[TechnicRCRacer]

Sounds like a very interesting model! It may be hard to replicate the shape of the body. 

[mocbuild101]

Should be very interesting... Even if it ends up looking a bit strange...

[Seasider]

Where are you putting the motor? The problem I’ve found is the torque in the motors when wound. I had a lift arm as the winding mechanism and found with this passing through 2 lift arms to the mechanism too much twist was occurs in the axle connecting the lift arm